Abundance and Threats to Medicinal Plants used in Managing Respiratory Illnesses in Migori County, Kenya: A need for increased local sensitization

Abstract

Respiratory ailments afflict millions of people around the world, posing a significant health burden in many developing countries. In Kenya, many communities use diverse plant resources to treat various illnesses. However, the plant species population is fast diminishing due to over-exploitation. The study aimed to assess the abundance and evaluate threats and conservation measures for medicinal plants used in managing respiratory illnesses in Migori County. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to 32 Traditional Health Practitioners (THPs) to provide data on threats and strategies for conserving medicinal plants. A total number of 300 sample plots of 30 x 30 m were selected to assess the abundance of medicinal plants in the three study sites. 3 quadrats were nested in each sample plot; 10 x 10 m for trees, 5 x 5 m for shrubs, and 1 x 1 m for herbaceous plant species. The most abundant species in the study area were Leucas aspera (30.1%), Justicia flava (16.1%), and Toddalia asiatica (10.6%). The least abundant were Ficus thonningii (0.3%) Vernonia amygdalina (0.2%) and Momordica foetida (0.1%). Agricultural expansion was the primary threat to medicinal plants in the study region (31.3%) followed by overharvesting (21.9%), firewood and Charcoal making (15.6%), and overgrazing (12.5%). 72% of the THPs made attempts to conserve the medicinal plants while 28% did not make any attempt. The study findings will inform sustainable use and support policy formulation for the conservation of these important natural resources.